City Surveillance
Reading PA City Hall’s Video Safety Unit Helps Police Respond More Quickly
Shortly after 5 a.m. on a cold day in January, a crowd outside a club near 10th and Chestnut streets began to get unruly, pushing, shoving and yelling. Then a driver in a parked car backed it quickly, ramming another car full of people. More yelling, more pushing, more shoving – until two gunshots were fired as a warning, their flashes lighting up the darkness.Five seconds later, police arrived and the crowd dispersed before more shots were fired.How did police get there so fast?The disturbance had been caught on one of the 19 new security cameras city police installed last year. The cameras’ images were being monitored by civilians in a City Hall room full of big-screen televisions, computers and joysticks.Worried about the growing tumult, the civilians had radioed police a minute before the shots, suggesting they might want to calm the situation.The system worked.This second round of 19 security cameras, like the first round of 27 cameras, was bought with a federal grant.The entire system now costs a bit more than $300,000 a year to run, the equivalent of three police officers.Police Chief William M. Heim said it’s worth it."They don’t replace cops," he said of the cameras. "But their eyes are on the street in 46 places and record 24/7."The city police force has been cut about 20 percent from five years ago.The camera network "provides eyes in all these sections where we can’t have officers," said Sgt. Stephen Anderson, in charge of City Hall’s Video Safety […]
Source readingeagle.com
Security Cameras Coming To Pelham (Bronx) Parkway Houses
These cameras could wipe the smile off bad guys’ faces. There’ll soon be several hundred security cameras installed to help improve safety at these two east Bronx city housing projectss After two years of waiting since the original city funding was approved, some 2,531 residents at the Pelham Parkway Houses will shortly be seeing 375 security camera installed there. Residents at the Throggs Neck Houses will see similar security cameras installed, thanks to almost $5 million in city funding obtained by City Councilman Jimmy Vacca. Vacca, officials from the NYC Housing Authority and others inked the final paperwork on Friday, Feb. 28 to begin installation work after the two-year red tape funding wait. With a large populaton of senior citizens living in its 23 six-story buildings, the move for security cameras at the Pelham Parkway Houses, off Williamsbridge Road and Astor Avenue,was sparked by the murder of an 88-year-old grandmother two years ago. Vacca previously secured funding for security cameras now in place at two senior citizen NYCHA buildings in his district, at Middletown Plaza and Boston Road Plaza. “Cameras make developments, as well as the surrounding residential communities, safer,” he noted. “I put my money where my mouth is by getting city funding in place,” said Vacca. “Now, the finalization of the Pelham Parkway camera design means we are moving full steam ahead. I’ve told NYCHA very clearly we will accept no delay.” Pelham Parkway Houses Tenants Council President Donna Goodall said she hoped the cameras – both […]
Source www.bxtimes.com
Salem MA Supports Advanced Surveillance At State’s Park & Ride Facilities
SALEM — The town will be supporting a proposed house bill that would allow for more advanced video surveillance at the state’s Park & Ride facilities. The Park & Ride facilities are owned by the state and managed by Concord Coach Lines, which operates the Boston Express service out of Salem. There are already video surveillance cameras at the eight facilities in the state, but the bill introduced by state representative Candace Bouchard would allow for increased resolution for the video cameras. Mark Sanborn, director of government relations for Concord Bus Lines, said the improved surveillance would help make the facilities safer and more secure. Similar high resolution cameras in operation in Maine have also helped assist police departments with drug and kidnapping cases, according to Sanborn. “These are safe and secure facilities right now, but this is another step we can take to continue to make that a top priority,” said Sanborn. Earlier this week, Salem selectmen joined the other communities with Park & Ride facilities, including Nashua, Londonderry, Portsmouth and Dover in sending a letter in support of the house bill by a 3-2 vote. Selectmen Stephen Campbell and James Keller voted against sending a letter in support of the house bill. Campbell said the bill raised issues concerning privacy, and noted that under the state’s Right to Know law, anyone from the public could put in a request for copies of the surveillance. Campbell said he has enough concerns with the government having access to the […]
Source www.unionleader.com
Oakland Neighbors Increasingly Use Surveillance Cameras For Security
Will Kane The motion-activated surveillance camera outside Jesper Jurcenoks’ home in the Oakland hills takes some 12,000 pictures a day. Every car, motorcycle, delivery truck, police car, bicyclist, pedestrian and deer that enters his isolated street off Skyline Boulevard gets photographed. Four times a second. Day and night. When they arrive and when they leave, time-stamped and stored on a server for 60 days. The two cameras, one at each entrance of Jurcenoks’ looping street, form a virtual wall around the neighborhood, he said. For years, Oakland residents have built fences or installed security cameras on their homes because they were fed up with burglaries and auto break-ins. Some neighborhoods hired private security guards to patrol their streets. Now they’re becoming more aggressive in their efforts to fight back. In growing numbers, residents are forming neighborhood groups and spending thousands of dollars on cameras that can monitor the perimeter of entire blocks. They don’t merely want to protect their homes. They want to catch anyone intent on criminal behavior. “We will not a let a criminal enter or leave our neighborhood undetected,” Jurcenoks said. “We’re not saying we can stop the crime. We want to make sure we have a photograph.” Trying to avoid abuse Seven areas across the city have signed up for a neighborhood-wide surveillance system, and dozens more are interested, said Jurcenoks, the founder of Neighborhood Guard , a nonprofit that helps owners set up and install such systems. He installed his neighborhood’s system in 2012, costing the neighborhood association $2,000 for each […]
Source rinf.com
Research: Security As A Key Enabler Of Smart Cities
That was the message when Anthony Leather from analysts Frost & Sullivan described how security is a key enabler of a smart city. By 2025, it’s predicted that there will be at least 26 completely smart cities, with more than half of those in Europe and North America. In the following presentation, delivered at IFSEC International in May 2013, Anthony introduces how intelligent communication systems, renewable energy, and an increase in intelligent buildings all drive a safer and more secure city. He also covers how existing security technology such as video surveillance, video analytics, and biometrics will remain the main focus of a city’s security and how the analysis of key information flow is the main area for improvement in the next generation of security. View the full presentation below:
Source www.ifsecglobal.com
IBM And AT&T To Develop Internet Of Things Solutions For Smarter Cities
IBM and AT&T to Develop Internet of Things Solutions for Smarter Cities According to a new research by Gartner , The Internet of Things (IoT), which excludes PCs, tablets and smartphones, will generate incremental revenue exceeding $300 billion in services in 2020. The services include hardware, embedded software, communications services and information services associated with the things. IBM is investing heavily on smarter cities initiatives as part of its Intelligent Operations Center , Maximo Asset Management , and advanced analytics capabilities. The Blue Chip company is now partnering with AT&T to develop solutions that support the Internet of Things. The two companies intend to combine their analytics platforms, cloud and security technologies in order to gain more insights on data collected from machines in various industries. The new AT&T and IBM alliance will initially focus on the creation of new solutions for municipalities and medium-sized utilities. These organizations want to integrate and analyze data that arise from the records of facilities such as transport vehicles, utility meters and security cameras and other connected devices. The collaboration is important opportunities for urban planners to create better connected cities including better allocation and distribution of operation and maintenance resources based on information from events such as breakdowns; analysis of the movement of commuters to improve the management of traffic, parking areas, location and number of rescue forces. Urban planners can prepare better and respond to prevent or mitigate potential bottlenecks and other difficulties in the event of an emergency. It will […]
Source cloudtimes.org
FirstNet: America’s New Surveillance Network
FirstNet: America’s new surveillance network raises grave privacy concerns While the system has already been tested in a handful of states, and 2014 will likely see it rolled out further. According to a series of presentation slides from December last year, FirstNet will be the “MOST secure wireless network ever built,” sitting entirely separate from the commercially run networks that everyone, including first responders, uses today. This will give FirstNet greater reliability in situations where networks come under extreme pressure, such as when tens of thousands of people contact loved ones during a terrorist attack or natural disaster. It makes sense to have a dedicated network just for first responders during these sorts of events. Thanks to the network being based on the super-fast 4G protocol, it will also allow for a new wave of novel technology. One application is that after ‘tagging’ a disaster victim with a small device, patients’ vital signs can be monitored from a control centre, allowing medical staff to keep an eye on who needs treatment the most at any one time. But FirstNet will also give local law enforcement the ability to take digital “fingerprints from the field,” record and share highquality video, and instantaneously marry these freshly sourced data with others over the network. In the video above, a demonstrator uses facial recognition software on a tablet; finds out if the target is in a linked database, and is immediately provided with a wealth of information on him. Of course, having a […]
Source voiceofrussia.com
Boston Bombings Will Have Spillover Effect On Security At Popular Events In Wisconsin
Wisconsin
London Councillor Renews Campaign For More Old East Cameras
Metro file A London councillor is renewing his campaign to have security cameras added to streets in Old East Village. Security cameras are still the solution to Old East’s problems, its local councillor says. And Stephen Orser, who represents Ward 4, says he has proof that electronic eyes bring results. This week, a $200 fine was slapped on a defendant at the London courthouse after the admitted dumping of garbage in Old East. It follows another successful result two weeks ago, when a different offender pleaded guilty and was fined $350. Both criminal cases follow dumping problems in the parking lot between Dundas Street and Queens Avenue. It’s that much-discussed area between Adelaide and Rectory that’s the focus of complaints about anti-social behaviour, drugs, and other crime. In each cases, the offender was caught on camera. A public appeal was put out via news media and social media, and the people ditching their garbage in the city parking lot found themselves in court. “The surveillance cameras that staff have put up are working,” said Orser. “Two convictions are evidence of that. “With that being said, the ongoing dumping problem is going to come to an end in wider streets. “The free ride is over in Old East Village.” Orser’s involved in the Old East Neighbourhood Safety Task Force, which has more than 50 members with connections to the area. They’re discussing ways to make lives better in the village and having a series of meetings during the first half of […]
Source metronews.ca
Coward Getting New Cameras To Combat Vandalism
COWARD, SC (WMBF) The Town of Coward’s park underwent an $8,000 renovation just one year ago. New paint and new roofs over the picnic area were just some the updates, but soon cameras will watch the area because vandals have been wrecking this park. "They have gone in there and filled the sinks full of sand, and the commodes to the point that we have actually had to open the septic tank and have it cleaned out," said Coward’s Mayor Dianne Thomas. Those are just some of the problems Mayor Dianne Thomas has been forced to put up with when it comes to the vandalism taking place at the town’s park and ball fields. "The concession stand was broken into twice. The first time, my understanding is they took all of the goodies that were inside there. That is sold at the ball games," Thomas said. Thomas said cash was also stolen out of the same concession stand and the crimes don’t stop there. Thomas said thieves tried to break into the equipment room at the ball fields and steal the stuff stored inside, but luckily they were unsuccessful. "But they did mess up the door on there and that had to be repaired," the mayor said. Repairs from the vandalism and would-be thefts have been costing the town, but Thomas thinks she finally has the answer to the town’s problems. Security cameras will soon be installed around the park, town hall and ball fields. "It will be a […]
Source www.wmbfnews.com
Ypsilanti Township Wants Security Cameras In Every Neighborhood
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich. – For the past few years there has been another set of eyes looking over the West Willow neighborhood in Ypsilanti Township, providing those who live there, such as Tony Slaughter, an added sense of security. "When they put the security cameras up I kind of thought crime would decrease and it kind of has in a way," he said. Township leaders say it’s a good crime-fighting tool. It has helped police track down a sexual predator who was preying on children. Right now there are 10 security cameras up in certain areas of Ypsilanti Township. Township leaders want security cameras in every neighborhood. Mike Radzik, the director of the Office of Community Standards, knows for some neighbors it’s a hard sell because of privacy concerns. "We are recording images that a police officer would see if he or she were standing in the same place. They are only in public places," he said. The township still is working on a cost-effective plan to get the cameras up in more places. "The township will invest in the infrastructure, actually put the cameras out and deploy them and there will be a special assessment on the homes in the neighborhood for the operating expense going forward, which will be a very nominal fee for this measure of public safety," Radzik. For Slaughter, now he knows that when he’s not keeping watch of his neighborhood, something else is. It’s a warning to criminals to stay away.
Source www.clickondetroit.com
Surveillance Cameras Keep Watch In Mountain Brook, AL
MOUNTAIN BROOK, Alabama – – Walk around nearly any city and you’ll notice. You’ll notice them watching you, recording your actions, tracking your comings and goings. In this day and age, security cameras are part of everyday life. So much so, that for the most part, we barely even notice them. It’s almost safe to assume they’re always there. Here at AL.com, we wanted to know: Who’s Watching You? In Mountain Brook at least, several city departments utilize cameras–though perhaps not the one’s you’d expect to. "The Public Works facility has 21 cameras that are used for security," said Public Works Director Ronnie Vaughn. The facility, located at 3579 East Street in Cahaba Heights, houses Mountain Brook’s Right of Way and Traffic Division, Heavy Construction Division, Fleet Management Division, and Forestry Division. For now, said Vaughn, the number of cameras that help keep the building safe are "adequate." "I see no need to increase the number," he said. Quieter areas, like the city’s parks, for example, currently lack security cameras. Shanda Williams, Parks/Recreation Superintendent , said the city currently does not have any cameras installed at the various parks. There are some, however, at the Parks and Recreation facility that she believes are "very useful." "Besides security reasons" said Williams, "they can be used to keep track of employees coming and going." Williams said that along with the cameras, a handy monitoring system allows her to rewind the video and record segments that can be used for evidence. "I […]
Source blog.al.com
Progress Made On Freeport IL Public Safety Plan
FREEPORT – Thirty-two gas stations and retail shops that sell tobacco have installed video cameras in an effort to help police reduce crime. The surveillance camera initiative is among several public safety initiatives rolled out last year by Mayor Jim Gitz’s administration. Aldermen discussed progress that’s been made and remaining goals to tackle in the year ahead at a Committee of the Whole meeting Monday. The public safety plan aims to reduce crime by creating safer neighborhoods, promoting personal accountability, developing stronger community relationships, creating safe housing, fostering interdepartmental cooperation in distribution of city resources and making sound, data-driven decisions. Aldermen raised the majority of their questions Monday about the safer neighborhoods goal, which involves tobacco licensing, street lights and pole cameras and a K-9 program. The Police Department has implemented a program for licensing of tobacco merchants in order to hold them accountable for maintenance and operation of security cameras in their stores. "The program that we’re implementing does two things: it gives us a licensing framework in which we can say, ‘Look, this isn’t working. You need to fix it,’ the same way we do with liquor," Gitz said. "The second thing it does is give us – finally – a tool that we also can utilize for the surveillance cameras. Most of these stores, they don’t have good surveillance, which is a far bigger problem than who has what cigarettes." Deputy Police Chief Jim Drehoble has visited retail outlets throughout the city to ensure the video […]
Source www.journalstandard.com
Boulder Police Secretly Install Surveillance Cameras On Municipal Campus Between City Hall, Library
BOULDER, Colo. – Some Boulder residents are questioning their police department’s decision to install surveillance cameras in the park area between city hall and the public library, without letting the public know. The city quietly placed two cameras on the municipal building and one on the library in early January. When asked about the secrecy, Boulder Police Department spokeswoman Kim Kobel said, "The reason those cameras were installed is because we have an ongoing criminal investigation in the area." Kobel gave few details about the investigation, but did say police have received numerous complaints about criminal behavior, including assault, threatening behavior, urinating in public and drug dealing. "In some cases, we have drug dealing to high school students," she said. The cameras have touched a raw nerve with some residents, especially those who hang out in the public space. "They’re violating our rights and our freedom," said Bailey Flood. When asked if it would have made a difference if the city had been upfront about the cameras, Flood replied, "No, it’s an invasion of privacy." Not everyone looks at it that way. "They’re fine," said Jeff Swann, who admits that he drinks regularly while sitting on a park bench in front of City Hall. "Cameras are a part of life." Swann says he’s observed a lot of criminal behavior in the park. "There was a big fight here two or three days ago," he said. "It was a real live brawl. It lasted five minutes. Both guys were […]
Source www.thedenverchannel.com
Cisco And AGT Form ‘Smart City’ Global Alliance To Transform How Cities Are Managed And Secured
SAN JOSE, CA–(Marketwired – Feb 5, 2014) – Cisco ( NASDAQ : CSCO ), the worldwide leader in IT, and AGT International, a global leader in city solutions, today announced a Smart City Global Strategic Alliance that will deliver the promise of the Internet of Everything (IoE) through edge analytics and cloud technologies that dramatically change the way cities are managed and safeguarded. The combination of intelligent networking, virtualized computing and video management software from Cisco and smart city software platform, sensor gateway and analytics from AGT will provide cost-effective and efficient delivery of services that enhance the daily lives of citizens and improve urban services — from transportation and healthcare to utilities infrastructure and disaster preparedness and personal safety. Wim Elfrink, executive vice president, Industry Solutions and Chief Globalisation Officer, Cisco, said : "Today, 99 percent of the physical world is not connected to the Internet. However, cities are the epicenter of the Internet of Everything, where people, things, data and processes can be connected to deliver new and amazing value. Think about the possibilities. It is a vision we can realize today through the unique combination of Cisco’s unparalleled networking and computing technology and AGT’s cutting-edge smart cities platform. With its recognized leadership in software and analytical solutions that improve everyday life, AGT is an ideal partner to transform city management." Mati Kochavi, CEO, AGT, said : "The Cisco and AGT alliance brings a holistic view of urban ecosystems, which are being challenged by dramatic growth and […]
Source www.stockhouse.com
Oakland Privacy Activists Threaten To Sue The City To Stop Surveillance Project
Captain Darren Allison addressed the League of Women Voters forum last week on the DAC. A coalition of activists opposed to the construction of Oakland’s Domain Awareness Center say they’re ready to take the city to court to stop the controversial surveillance project. Brian Hofer, a lawyer working with the Oakland Privacy Working Group, is delivering a letter to Mayor Jean Quan, the city council, the city administrator, and the city attorney today. The letter states that the group will "seek judicial relief" to halt the project. Hofer and his clients claim that the planned contractor to carry out work on Phase 2 of the DAC, Schneider Electric, is also a nuclear weapons contractor, and that hiring the company would violate Oakland’s Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Ordinance. The Express reported on November 19, 2013 that all of the contractors under consideration for the contract to build the DAC were linked to nuclear weapons work , but that Schneider Electric seemed to have only indirect contracts, providing security cameras to a Navy nuclear weapons facility. Since then the Oakland Privacy Working Group uncovered detailed evidence of what they say is Schneider Electric’s close work with military and US Energy Department agencies that design, build, and deploy nuclear weapons systems. The letter delivered to the city today includes a photocopy of Schneider Electric marketing materials in which the company describes itself as a "global specialist" in "weapon launching control system for nuclear submarines," and "nuclear weapons handling systems." The activists have […]
Source www.eastbayexpress.com
San Jose, CA Police May Tap Residents’ Private Security Cameras
Police would be able to tap into San Jose residents’ private video cameras under a new proposal that would expand investigators’ watchful eye over the city but already is raising big brother-type privacy concerns. Councilman Sam Liccardo’s proposal, unveiled Thursday and set to be discussed by a City Council committee next week, would allow property owners voluntarily to register their security cameras for a new San Jose Police Department database. Officers then would be able to access the footage quickly after a nearby crime has occurred. It is the latest effort designed to shore up public safety in a city that has seen its reputation as one of the safest big cities in America take a hit in recent years as crime rates have surged and officers have left in droves. The issue is taking center stage heading into the June primary to replace outgoing Mayor Chuck Reed as five local leaders jockey for position as tough-on-crime candidates. Liccardo, among several council members running for mayor, unveiled the proposal in response to the string of arson fires that terrorized his downtown-area district this month. Police used surveillance videos provided voluntarily by nearby property owners as key evidence in identifying a suspect they arrested on suspicion of burning about a dozen buildings. "It became apparent that there’s a lot of evidence out there that residents want to provide," Liccardo said, predicting that the cost would be nominal because existing city technology employees could maintain the database. The new database "is […]
Source www.emergencymgmt.com
Sochi Visitors Face Armed Guards, Full-Body Scanners, Security Cameras
Online Games Government Grants Parking Tickets On guard: Military police officers at a train station in Sochi. Photo: Reuters Sochi: Fans of downhill skiing would be forgiven for thinking they had arrived at a military base when showing up in Sochi for the Winter Olympics. Ticket holders must walk under an array of cameras hooked up to face -recognition software before traversing the checkpoints and the mesh fences to make their way beyond the armed guards . If picked out, they then have to step into a full-body scanner. All spectators must pass through metal detectors twice and present their documents three times. "The guests are the lucky ones," said a man who works for a logistics company that helped organise the opening ceremony. "The staff isn’t. I spend hours getting through security checks every day." While heightened scrutiny is the norm at such events, the edges are sharper in the Russian Black Sea resort town following a spate of terrorist bombings that killed more than 30 people. An Islamic militant group last week posted a video threatening to deliver a "present" for visitors to Sochi, which was sealed off on January 7 as Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to do everything to make the games safe without "depressing participants". The government has deployed 40,000 police and special services officers. "Of course these measures are a bit annoying," said the head of Russia’s curling federation, Dmitry Svishev. "But then you think about what efforts are taken to guarantee the […]
Source buahmanfaat.blogspot.com
Fayetteville NC Police Urge Businesses To Use Video Surveillance
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – As a way to catch criminals and deter crime, the Fayetteville Police Department is working to improve surveillance cameras at businesses. Kari Ellis, the department’s specialist in video, is spreading the word about an initiative called "Video Done Right." On Thursday she presented information about the initiative to a group of business owners and managers who were interested in installing or improving surveillance systems. Ellis started the program to give businesses the "dos and don’ts" of setting up surveillance systems. It covers what cameras to use, where to place them and the settings that capture the best pictures. Ellis, or other crime prevention specialists with the same training, will even examine the current setup at a business and provide feedback. Ellis said she was inspired to start the program because she often needed to examine video at a place where a crime had occurred, but many times the video was poor quality because for any number of reasons. She said poor video isn’t very helpful, but good video makes a big difference for police. "When you put that evidence in front of a jury, what can they say? That’s you. A lot of times their mother will identify them. Their friends will rat them out. So yeah, video is really integral in solving crime," Ellis said. Ellis said the Shaniya Davis kidnapping and murder case is a prime example of how good surveillance is helpful. She wishes every business would have a system as good as […]
Source www.wncn.com
Jersey City Police “Eye In The Sky” Monitoring Journal Square Travelers
Holiday shoppers and travelers passing through Journal Square will be under the watchful gaze of a Jersey City Police Department ?eye in the sky? which is an elevated booth that can accommodate police officers and is fitted with closed circuit video cameras, officials said today. The ?eye in the sky? is located on Journal Square Plaza near the fountain at Kennedy Boulevard and Bergen Avenue. It stands about 25-feet-tall, has flood lights, cameras pointed in several directions, the capacity to transmit video live for officers to monitor at a remote location and it records all video captured by its cameras. ?It is there for the high volume of people during the holiday season,? Jersey City Police Department spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said this afternoon. ?The police department is constantly redeploying its assets throughout the city.? A 36-year-old Jersey City man making his commute home at 5:20 p.m. tonight said he imagines the tower is a useful deterrent to thieves and other criminals but noted, ?I didn’t even notice it was there? after having walking past the imposing structure. A cab driver waiting to pick up passengers nearby said he didn’t feel the location of the surveillance tower was well chosen. He pointed at three security cameras nearby on the side of Duane Reade and Santander Bank which are apparently monitored by the Port Authority, saying ?I don?t know why they put it there, there are cameras everywhere here.? The cabbie added, ?If someone wants to do something, then they are […]
Source www.nj.com